question to Americans

[PowerMac4Ever]

Ohhh, looks like the punk bitch is too afraid to post now! Get him!

 

[charrison]

yeah, where did nottechguy go?

 

[Ryan]

I guess we put that argument to rest

 

[Dedpuhl]

<< yeah, where did nottechguy go? >>



He's hiding in his igloo...



btw, this thread is quite entertaining.

 

[killmeplease]

<< I'm just wondering this, why do most Americans have no idea what goes on outside their country?
It's like the average American thinks the world ends at the border to Canada, Mexico, Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean.

any thoughts of reasons causes etc? >>



I deny the premise.

Why is it that those outside the US think that if people in the US disagree with them, they feel those in the US are uninformed? Alot of people outside the US are getting their world news from US news organizations.

 

[Linflas]

I love the assumption that none of us have left the country. Not only can I name more than 3 cities in Canada I have visited more than 3 cities in Canada, Germany, Italy, and Spain. I wonder if he who casting the stone could say the same?

 

[NewCompGeek]

>>i think it's just because we americans are ignorant <<

nontechguy is right on the money on this one. the senators and everybody else in congress are a bunch of idiots.

 

[WillyF1uhm1]

First of all, I haven't read every reply in this thread.
Ignorance is found everywhere, whether inside or outside the US.

I think that Hotchic and CanOWorms have a point there, when they 'blame' it on the media. For most of the things that are going on in the world, I have to rely on newsitems on tv, newspapers, and occasionaly strolling along the items on the WWW. And yes, possibly shows that are aired here in Europe sometimes give a 'bent' view of the american lifestyle.

But back on the media.
A few hours flying from Holland, there's the US. I could name a few US cities, several of the US states, political figureheads (present day and historical), some things that are going on there right now (e.g. the bankruptcy of Enron, if I'm correct an energy company or something).

But a few hours driving (fast, though, because in germany you're allowed to go, say, 135 mph) from where I live, there's Switzerland. And I don't know a thing of what's going on there. Yes, a few cities (Bern, Zurich, that's it), and that skiing is great there in winter and that you cannot pay with ? (Euro's) AFAIK, but not who's the head of state, not anything on political issues etc. etc.
So, because I don't know enough about Switzerland, I'm ignorant?
I don't think so. The media here in Holland just aren't interested in Suisse at the moment. Unless there's a fire going on in one of the tunnels in the Alps of course.

Also I can compare newsitems that are aired here in Holland, with e.g. BBC news (Great-Britain), newsitems on the ARD and ZDF (German television), VRT (Belgium) and occasionally with TV5 (France). Viewpoints of reporters can differ. Also I can pick up news items from England, Germany, France, Belgium and the US (CNN), that wouldn't make it as a newsitem on Dutch tv.

It's mostly the persons with the biggest mouths who get on tv. So I do doubt, that what I'm hearing and seeing, is always the opinion of the average US citizen.

 

[lowtech1]

<< the world ends at the border >>



It is an unfortunate thing that many people think this way all over the world....and there are ignoramus who's call the ill-fortune dummies.

 

[glenn1]

<< I was just surprised for the first year or so to realize people would not know on which continent a country is. Never mind what country. >>



Quick, name which continents the following countries are on:

Eritrea, Tuvalu, Moldova, Comoros, and Burkina Faso. List the heads of state of each, and two cities from each country. For extra credit, give the former name of Burkina Faso.

Don't know, and aren't an American? Then STFU about Americans being "ignorant". There's simply degrees of ignorance, and if you aren't part of the solution in helping others to overcome theirs, you're part of the problem.

 

[LAUST]

So make up your mind, either people say we are messing with too many country's affairs or that we don't know whats going on outside the US :disgust:

 

[Sachmho]

Hey Non Tech guy; why don't u just shut your mouth; you are exemplifying the stereotypes of Americans of not being educated when you ask that question. Grow a brain, or at least a zipper for your mouth

 

[AdamDuritz99]

NonTechGuy,

LOL, i thought at first you just had a legitment question. But now i just realize you are just asking to get flamed. Don't worry you came to the right place. Here in America we have the elitest flammers!

Hey Russ, where are you? You know that conversation we had about being a little harsh? Well here's your chance.....


peace
sean

 

[jpsj82]

<< But a few hours driving (fast, though, because in germany you're allowed to go, say, 135 mph) from where I live, there's Switzerland. And I don't know a thing of what's going on there. Yes, a few cities (Bern, Zurich, that's it), and that skiing is great there in winter and that you cannot pay with ? (Euro's) AFAIK, but not who's the head of state, not anything on political issues etc. etc.
So, because I don't know enough about Switzerland, I'm ignorant?
I don't think so. The media here in Holland just aren't interested in Suisse at the moment. Unless there's a fire going on in one of the tunnels in the Alps of course. >>

Just a comment on the Euro in Switzerland. The Euro of course is not legal currency, but many places in Switzerland are accepting it. Examples are trains that run throught he country and other tourist spots, so ski mountains might accept it, but I am not from Europe to know first hand this is just what I have read.

Now back to the topic of this tread.


<< Hey Non Tech guy; why don't u just shut your mouth; you are exemplifying the stereotypes of Americans of not being educated when you ask that question. Grow a brain, or at least a zipper for your mouth >>

I think he did shut up, he hasn't posted in a while.

 

[CirekL]

When I was in elementary, they made me memorize all the capitals of every country in the world... so... this bumba$$ American knows at least one thing about every country. (too bad not all of those countries exist anymore, what a waste of time...)

Would you consider any nation that is less than internationally altruistic to contain only self-absorbed, clueless citizens? Not an attack.... just a suggestion.

 

[LAUST]

Delete

 

[StuckMojo]

i think you should be nuked.

where do you live?

 

[glenn1]

<< i think you should be nuked.

where do you live? >>



Which brings up an interesting point as well... non U.S. folks always seem to want to accuse the U.S. of having a "just nuke the bastards" mindset.

Put that together with your perception of our woeful lack of geographical knowledge, and i'd be a bit nervous if the people shooting off those nukes couldn't identify my country on an unmarked globe, like someone suggested most Americans couldn't do. Makes you wonder where those suckers might land, eh?

 

[BeefJurky]

you know what i hate? when you've just finished making a really tender piece of steak on the grill, and there's no steak sauce left, or somebody put it back in the fridge empty! i hate that! oh, we were talking about canada? oh, well... aren't they french or something? frogs. HA. i know a few canadians. only one of em couldn't think her way out of a wet paper bag if the open side was up and somebody told her to stand. the other's are just fine and don't hate americans at all. maybe i should move to japan where at least the women like us.

 

[BeefJurky]

oh, and just a funny thing i thought of. anyone here use to watch ren and stimpy? there was that one episode when they went to canada seeking their fortunes or something....

ren:what's canada's number one natural resource?
stimpy: i dunno, what?
ren: DIRT!


hahaha, i love canada. its so leafy

 

[Transition]

<< let me make a few examples:

on a Canadian comedy show, one guy asked Bush (not a fake but the REAL president of the US) what he thought of the prime minster of Canada John Poutine's praise of you leading the world in the global economy and Bush didn't know Poutine was a fake name (fries with gravy)

a LOT of Americans think there's like 10 people in Canada who all live in igloos. on a trip to the US like 3 years ago, Americans were friendly but jeez.... at least 6 of them asked me if i knew his friend Jaques in Canada or Joe in Vancover, i always just respond if he knows my friend Allen in LA.

LOTS of Americans always say to a problem "just nuke them" as a solution to the problem even though they have no idea what is going on such as that saudi thing or that thread "would you use the deathstar on afghanistan if it was a planet" even though most Afghans are prisoners in their own country. same with "is france gay" and "it's time to nuke china" quite a few people said france should be nuked. lost of Americans on AT too said that!

Give an American a non labelled globe and the majority will not be able to point out which coutry is Great Britain.

The majority of Americans believe they should just control the world through military force which always leads to US medling in other country's business such as military operation in other countries for seemingly no reason at all. >>



Ah the sweeping sweeping generalizations..

Now go back to Canada so we can nuke you, hoser!

 

[Bomberboy]

Sigh. Another one of these Canada vs. US threads. How boring...

Maybe we should just create one big nation to stop all the b*tching

 

[WyteRyce]

Aces to you NonTechGuy!

Nothing better than showing how stupid and ignorant Americans are then by using false generalizations and statements with no proof.

 

[PlatinumGold]

i'm not gonna read this whole thread. but let's put it bluntly.

a gnat has to be a lot more conscious of what a bear is doing than the bear does about the gnat.

saying that a canadian is more knowledgable about US domestic policy means NOTHING. why would or should any american care what canadians do to themselves. fact is, american domestic policy has more of an impact on canadians than Canadian domestic policy.

 

[VisionsUCI]

NonTechGuy, what prompts you to ask these questions? Did you meet somebody that was incredibly ignorant, or are you just curious?